Prince Andrew boards private jet at Aberdeen airport as he cuts Balmoral stay short

Prince Andrew cut short his Balmoral holiday just days after he faced renewed scrutiny over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York was due to spend the whole week at the Queen’s Scottish estate, but was pictured boarding the private jet this afternoon. 

The royal was seen stepping out of a black Range Rover at Aberdeen airport. The Duchess of York left yesterday.

At the weekend, the Queen sat next to her son on their way to church on the grounds of Balmoral, a day after it emerged Epstein has killed himself in a US jail.

The Prince shared a car with his mother and daughter, Princess Beatrice, to Kirk on the Scottish estate, while Charles and Camilla drove themselves.

It came as the Duchess of York also left Balmoral early, amid claims she was ushered out when the Duke of Edinburgh refused to be under the same roof as her.

It is said he accuses her of having publicly humiliated the Queen and the royal family following her divorce from Andrew in 1996.

The royal was seen leaving a black Range Rover at Aberdeen airport. The Duchess of York also left yesterday

Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell on Saturday, was accused of arranging to have sex with dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York and Florida. 

His body was discovered at 6.30am at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Manhattan, hours after a court in New York released 2,000 pages of previously sealed legal documents.

One document repeated the allegation, which the Prince has always denied, that Andrew had sex with a 17 year old girl.  

The court papers repeated claims that the Duke slept with Virginia Roberts, 17 at the time and one of Epstein’s ‘sex slaves’, and groped a 21-year-old woman. The Prince denies the claims.

The 59-year-old royal was pictured getting out of a black Range Rover before boarding the private jet this afternoon

The 59-year-old royal was pictured getting out of a black Range Rover before boarding the private jet this afternoon

All smiles: Andrew looks positively gleeful as he heads to church with his family, while the Queen's smile is not quite so wide

All smiles: Andrew looks positively gleeful as he heads to church with his family, while the Queen’s smile is not quite so wide

Lawyers for his alleged victims said Epstein had ‘cheated justice’ and expect the criminal investigation to focus on British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, a mutual friend of Epstein and the Duke.

The latest legal documents claim she ‘operated as … Epstein’s procurer of under age girls’. She has repeatedly denied involvement in his crimes.    

Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of Prince Andrew strongly denying any wrongdoing. 

Prince Andrew has strenuously denied the allegations of ‘impropriety with underage minors’ as ‘categorically untrue’ and the allegations naming him were struck out of the earlier proceedings.  

Miss Maxwell also denies any wrongdoing.

Prince Andrew is pictured with Epstein in Central Park in New York in February 2011. The Duke  may be dragged deeper into the Epstein scandal

Prince Andrew is pictured with Epstein in Central Park in New York in February 2011. The Duke  may be dragged deeper into the Epstein scandal

Virginia Roberts, then 17 and one of Epstein's accusers, is photographed with Prince Andrew and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2001

Virginia Roberts, then 17 and one of Epstein’s accusers, is photographed with Prince Andrew and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2001

Asked if the Duke of York would respond to the news of his former friend’s death, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘This relates to proceedings in the United States, to which The Duke of York is not a party.

‘Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.’

In 2015 Buckingham Palace issued a dramatic and unprecedented denial that he slept with Miss Roberts, saying; ‘It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts.

‘Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.’ 

Meanwhile sources said the Duchess, who arrived on Thursday night, had to unexpectedly leave for London, sparking speculation within the royal household. 

She was spotted catching a British Airways flight at nearby Aberdeen Airport on Sunday afternoon. The Queen began allowing the Duchess to join the annual family gathering at Balmoral about six years ago.

The Queen, who spends every summer at the Scottish castle, was seen enjoying a horse ride alongside a groom today, at Balmoral

The Queen, who spends every summer at the Scottish castle, was seen enjoying a horse ride alongside a groom today, at Balmoral

But an insider said: ‘In previous years the duchess has left the day before the Queen’s husband arrives.

‘This year he arrived several days earlier than expected, which is rather strange, so the duchess left.’ 

She was expected to spend up to a week with Prince Andrew and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie at the castle. 

Today the royal family were pictured embarking on a day of outdoor activities as they enjoy the traditional summer at Balmoral.

Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 54, was seen taking their son James, Viscount Severn, 11, to try his hand at fly fishing on the River Dee at Balmoral

Edward’s wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 54, was seen taking their son James, Viscount Severn, 11, to try his hand at fly fishing on the River Dee at Balmoral

The monarch, 93, was joined by Prince Edward, her youngest son, who was pictured riding alongside his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 15

The monarch, 93, was joined by Prince Edward, her youngest son, who was pictured riding alongside his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 15

Edward and daughter Louise enjoyed some quality father and daughter time on horseback, both wearing their helmets

Edward and daughter Louise enjoyed some quality father and daughter time on horseback, both wearing their helmets

The Queen, who spends every summer at the Scottish castle, was seen enjoying a horse ride alongside a groom today, dressed in a trench coat and  a headscarf, though the accomplished rider opted against wearing a helmet.

The monarch, 93,  was joined by Prince Edward, 55, her youngest son, who was pictured riding alongside his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 15.

Elsewhere Edward’s wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 54, was seen taking their son James, Viscount Severn, 11, to try his hand at fly fishing on the River Dee.

Dressed in a camouflaged anorak, a cap, combats and wellies, James watched on as he was shown how to use a fishing reel.

Meanwhile Sophie, dressed in a camouflage cap, anorak and boots, walked their dog as she looked on. 

This year the traditional grouse shoot, which is an annual fixture in the royal calendar on the Queen’s 50,000-acre Scottish estate, has been called off due to a fall in bird numbers. 

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